[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As spring arrives and social distancing measures disappear, many people's activity levels are increasing. One of the frequent unwelcome visitors when activity increases is plantar fasciitis.
The representative symptoms of plantar fasciitis are pain in the heel and sole of the foot. If you feel severe pain when you wake up in the morning or when pressing the inside of the heel, you should suspect plantar fasciitis. The same applies if you feel stiffness in the foot.
The plantar fascia is a thick and strong fibrous band that extends from the heel bone to the front of the sole, branching into five parts attached to the base of the toes. It plays an important role in maintaining the arch of the foot and absorbing shocks applied to the foot. However, if excessive load is placed on the foot or intense exercise occurs, inflammation is likely to develop here. Activities that strain the foot, such as hiking or climbing stairs, or wearing shoes that do not absorb shocks well, can cause micro-damage to the plantar fascia, making inflammation more likely. It can also occur in cases of foot-related diseases such as diabetes or arthritis, flat feet, or when a spur forms on the heel bone.
According to statistics from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of patients with plantar fasciitis (plantar fibromatosis) was 265,346 in 2021. According to earlier 2018 statistics, it occurs more frequently in women (57.4%) than men, and by age group, it is most common in people in their 50s (26.1%).
Diagnosis of plantar fasciitis is usually possible through a physical examination. If pain intensifies when bending the toes toward the dorsum of the foot or standing on tiptoe, plantar fasciitis is likely. Diagnosis is possible if a clear point of tenderness is felt at the anteromedial tubercle of the heel. However, plantar fasciitis is a self-limiting condition without significant complications and often improves on its own if left untreated.
However, treatment usually takes at least six months, and if pain causes discomfort in daily life, appropriate treatment may be necessary depending on the patient. Non-surgical treatment methods are typically used for plantar fasciitis. These include stretching, lifestyle modification, PDRN injections, and steroid injections. However, repeated use of steroids can cause acute rupture of the plantar fascia and atrophy of the heel fat pad, so caution is required. Recently, PDRN injections, a non-antibiotic and non-steroidal component derived from DNA fragments isolated from the germ cells of trout and salmon, have been used to reduce pain and promote tissue regeneration.
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